Diazenylium

Diazenylium is the chemical N2H+, an inorganic cation that was one of the first ions to be observed in interstellar clouds. Since then, it has been observed for in several different types of interstellar environments, observations that have several different scientific uses. It gives astronomers information about the fractional ionization of gas clouds, the chemistry that happens within those clouds, and it is often used as a tracer for molecules that are not as easily detected (such as N2).[1] Its 1–0 rotational transition occurs at 93.174 GHz, a region of the spectrum where Earth's atmosphere is transparent[2] and it has a significant optical depth in both cold and warm clouds[3] so it is relatively easy to observe with ground-based observatories. The results of N2H+ observations can be used not only for determining the chemistry of interstellar clouds, but also for mapping the density and velocity profiles of these clouds.[4]

  1. ^ Caselli, P.; Myers, P. C.; Thaddeus, P. (1995). "P. Caselli, P.C. Myers, and P. Thaddeus, ApJL, 455: L77 (1995)". The Astrophysical Journal. 455. Bibcode:1995ApJ...455L..77C. doi:10.1086/309805. Archived from the original on 2014-07-06. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  2. ^ "CSO Atmospheric Transmission Interactive Plotter". Archived from the original on 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  3. ^ L. Pirogov, I. Zinchenko, P. Caselli, L.E.B. Johansson and P. C. Myers, A&A, 405: 639-654 (2003)
  4. ^ Caselli, Paola; Benson, Priscilla J.; Myers, Philip C.; Tafalla, Mario (2002). "Dense Cores in Dark Clouds. XIV. N2H+ (1–0) Maps of Dense Cloud Cores". The Astrophysical Journal. 572 (1): 238–63. arXiv:astro-ph/0202173. Bibcode:2002ApJ...572..238C. doi:10.1086/340195. ISSN 0004-637X.